Desert Roads and Straight Streets

"As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, 'Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.'...and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia...reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah." Acts 8:26-28

I love the examples in scripture where God brings people and circumstances together for His purposes, making connections that would seem impossible apart from His hand orchestrating events. In Acts 8 we see God calling Philip to travel south to meet the treasurer of Ethiopia, and in the chapter that followers we read about a believer in Damascus named Ananias whom the Lord directs to "Go over to Straight Street to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to Me right now. I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again." (Acts 9:11-12)

How would you respond to such seemingly random requests? Imagine being Philip or Ananias. Philip didn't know that Ethiopian at all, which may have made it easier than poor Ananias. This dear Christ-follower was aware of Saul's reputation and there was a very real possibility that Ananias could be arrested, or worse yet, killed for calling on the name of the Lord. Both Philip and Ananias were specifically chosen by God to fulfill needs in the lives of others.

These examples are so reassuring to me. First, as a Christ-follower, it comforts me to know that I am not going to miss any adventure with the Lord unless I choose to do so. I can be anywhere, doing anything when God moves my thoughts and heart in an act of obedience that may seem nonsensical, but it is providential and needed for the furthering of His kingdom.

It's also a blessing to realize that if I'm the one in need, God can move on the heart of anyone to be my answer. It could be a friend or a stranger, but if God has a message that needs to be delivered or a service provided, He can use anyone. There will be no missed-adventures with the Lord.

God sent Philip to a desert road and Ananias to "Straight Street". We don't know where God may call us to go, but we know that at the end of the road there is someone who needs to encounter Jesus through us. And, if we're the one in need, our "Philip" and "Ananias" are on the way, so keep a watchful eye!